Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-05-13
FRIDAY MAY 13.
NEXT TUESDAYS ELECTION.

thousand dollars, to build new
school houses for the town, will be
voted upon. The last proposition
was voted down because OF Its be-
ing SO indefinite. Had the people
known at the tire where the houses
were to be built and how much
would be allowed for each building
the proposition would have been
carried without doubt. The last
meeting made the proposition
palmer, but they tackled on an
additional five thousand dollars
for doing what should have been
done at first. The old building
and grounds are worth at least
three thousand dollars, and if some
thing near that amount can not
be realized, the old building should
be allowed to stand. This would
give twenty eight thousand dollars,
sum greatly in excess of the
amount needed to furnish ample
and convenient accommodations
for the school population OF
Kirksville. Strange that the
principal argument used for voting
this tax is, sit would boom the
town." Booming the town has
nothing whatever to do with
The school house question. The
thing to consider is, what better
facilities do the children need for
their comfort, convenience and
advancement, and how shall this
be provided at the least possible
expense. When this Is carefully
considered and a proposition, IN
accordance Herewith, submitted
to the people that proposition, we
believe, will carry almost unani-
mously, Adair county and Kinks
Vile have not been slow to recog-
nize the value of education or we
would not now be paying interest
on a debt of seventy-eight thousand
dollars contracted in the interests
of education. Neither have they
failed to recognize the value OF
public improvements or we would
not be paying interest on debt OF
seventy-five thousand dollars fol
the @. NJ. & P. Ry., with an adj
ditional debt of forty thousand
for Benton Township. There is
no denying the fact that the town Is
badly in debt, and while we want
school houses, we do not want to
vote money that is not actually
needed. Build now to supply the
needs of the present. Let the fu'
ture take care of itself. Twenty
eight thousand dollars is far IN
excess of the sum needed to give
the school population OF Kinks
Vile ample, commodious and con-
venient quarters. The thinking
taxpayers recognize this and, we
think, will not vote to sustain such
a proposition. The extravagant
idea of tearing down the old and
building greater, greater than the
occasion demands, has kept Kinks,
vile from getting new school
buildings for several years and II
is time to call halt. The School
Board is not responsible for this
condition of affairs, for they have
faithfully submitted the PROPOSE
tions suggested at the evening
meetings. But the trouble is
these meetings do not represent
the masses Of the tax payers, and
when election day comes they &c
to the poles and vote down the
proposition. And thus will they
continue to do so long as it is tried
to vote sum in excess of the
amount actually required. Tack
ing on an additional five thousand,
because the people were deter
mined to know, before voting the
loan, that it was not all to be ex-
pended on the old site, does not,
in itself, look just right to the
masses, and especially so when
that amount is cot needed. The
School Board will finally have to
take the matter into their own
hands, carefully consider what is
necessary for the comfort and
convenience of the children, closely